Hydroplane-station



P. GERLI.

HYDROPLANE STATION.

APPLICATION FILED IAN-.'21, 1919.

1,392,931, rammed oet. 11,1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT- OFFICE,

PAUL GERLI; or NEW YORK, N. Y.

HYDROPLANE-STATION.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 11, 1921.

Application led January 21, 1919. Serial No. 272,230.

' planes, which will permit of stop-overs for such machines when sent on long Journeys` over seas, will afford bases from which they may operate at great distances from shore.

and will provide means for the storage offuel. supplies and ammunition for such machines when -on long journeys, and thus avoid the necessity of loading them with such freight in amounts which would tend to impair their practical value and efficiency.

For accomplishing these objects I have devised and designed floating and controllable stations which may be towed or impelled to such points asmay be necessary or 'desirable` and maintained thereat by anchors or by 'suitable propelling devices, operating .against the wind. and which are constructed to afford harbors or havens in' which the traveling hydroplanes may alight from the air, or into which they may be guided or propelled from any point on the surface of the sea in the vicinity.

I believe that practical considerations impose for such stations certain structural features. and these I have developed to produce a station of the following general character: A sufficiently strong and watertight hull is constructed with one end Vapproximately pointed like the bow of a ship, and the other end wider and open except below the water line in order to permit planes to oat over the same. The interior space within the structure, whether formed with av complete or partial or no bottom, is below thewater level to form a lagoon or harbor in which the planes alight or rest, and the side portions are built up to a sufficient height to afford a protective shelter aroundthis lagoon.

This structure is equipped with propellers or revolving blades placed so that when operated by proper engines they may keep the pointed or bow end into the wind, or even serve as a means for propelling the' craft,

and the superstructure of the side portions is provided with houses or store-roon'is,`

wireless outfits, anti-aircraft, and other guns, and such other appurtenances as the nature of the case may require.

Specifically. the plan of,construction `may be very greatly varied, and the invention is not limited in this regard. In the accompanying drawings, however, I have illustrated the form and arrangement which I believe to be best adapted for practical use.

In these drawings:

Figure l is a top plan view of one of the improved stations.

Figi 2 is a view of the same in side elevation, and

Fig. 3 is a cross section of the same.

In the construction shownthere is a hull l, preferably built up of water-tight compartments and substantially cigar-shaped, but with the central rear portion 2 covered over and on a level below that of the water in which the structure floats and open at the rear end. The sides 3 of the hull are built up to-the desired height above the water level and may be, and preferably are, en-

tirely covered or inclosed.l At or near the y* pointed end 4 are rotary blades 5 driven b v suitable engines 6 within the vhull and the entire top may be provided with a guard rail 7.

Upon the covered portion or deck and preferably aft may be built houses 8` on one or both sides, for stores` to accommodate the crew of the craft or of arriving planes, and to contain the wireless outfit 9, ammunition and the like. These houses are reached by sta-irways or ladders 10 leading up from the lagoon as shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

The superstructure may also carryl guns 1l, search-lights 12, and the usual appurtenances of any sea-going craft. The structure may be provided with anchors or with 'steadying beams or bars 13. and in case of 'lon journeys may thus nd refuge after iig ts of no extraordinary distances, and places where their crews may rest and where their fuel and stores may be replenished. If the water is smooth the plane may alight near the structure, or if the sea is rough or the Wind high, they may come up in the wind and alight in the lagoon or inclosed space within the structure. When once within the lagoon,the crews may reach the superstructure in small boats and by ascending the stairways or ladders.

This invention, aside from its value in case of war, goes far toward solving the problem of aerial transportation of mails, freight and passengers across the sea, for these stations may readily be built of suffi'- cient strength and size to withstand the severities of storms and wind and may easily be maintained in approximately Xed positions in all kinds of weather.

The lagoon within the structure has its opening restricted as shown, which restricted opening provides smoother water lwithin the lagoon than would lotherwise be the case. The extended rear submerged end 2 also makes the water much smoother andthe submerged ioor 15 wpreferably extends entirely under the lagoon, thereby preventing the force of the waves from coming up from below and unduly disturbing the water in the lagoon.l The lower part of the hull and superstructure are integral, thereby affording a stronger construction than a raft like Vstructure with pontoon buoy like supporting means.

At the end of the lagoon there is'provided a platform 16 which is above the water line. The planes may be drawn out on this platform for repairs.

What l claim as my invention is l. A hydroplane station composed of a hull, a superstructure built around three sides of a central open portion below the inclosed lagoon in which hydroplanes may' alight or into which they may float from the surrounding water, said hull having a deck portion adjacent the water-line of the lagoon upon which hydroplanes may be drawn up for repairs.

ln testimony whereof l hereunto aiix my signature.

y PAUL GERM. 

